The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, will shortly be writing to public authority Chief Executives urging them to adopt the ICO's new model publication scheme. Every public authority subject to the Freedom of Information Act is required to adopt and maintain a publication scheme. A publication scheme is a commitment to routinely and proactively provide information to the public. The Information Commissioner will also make clear the ICO commitment to spot checks from February 2009, to ensure compliance with the requirements.
The ICO held a series of workshops around the country with freedom of information practitioners in order to develop the new model publication scheme. The workshops informed representatives how to get the best out of a scheme, what information should be included and how it should be presented to the public.
Details about the new scheme can be found
here.